The story of Lazarus is about faith in a God who has no limitations, a God so powerful he can cause a body to live again \u2014 a human body, or a church body.<\/p>\n
Grab your Bible and let\u2019s go through John 11:1-44 together.<\/p>\n
Are you concerned about your church? When you look back, do you see a season of life and vibrancy? Could we see that again? Do you wonder, \u201cCan this body live again?\u201d The answer is \u201cYes! Yes, it can!\u201d<\/p>\n
John 11:1 \u2013<\/strong> Yes! Even when it appears sick unto death. <\/strong><\/p>\n The request to Jesus was urgent, desperate. Jesus knew the expectation was that this illness was terminal. But Jesus consoled and encouraged them: \u201cThis illness will not lead to death.\u201d Receive the consolation of Christ. There\u2019s more life to come!<\/p>\n John 11:3,5 \u2013<\/strong> Yes! Because Jesus loves it. <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cLord, he whom you love is ill.\u201d \u201cNow, Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.\u201d Jesus loves His church. He has loved it to the uttermost. Jesus loves this<\/em> church. By the power of love, He will give it new life.<\/p>\n John 11:4,40 \u2013<\/strong> Yes! Because God can get glory in it. <\/strong><\/p>\n The glory of God made manifest in the world is the mission goal of the church. The revival of a vibrant body here would display God\u2019s power and glory in this city. \u201cIt is for the glory of God, that the son of God may be glorified through it.\u201d<\/p>\n John 11:6,8,11 \u2013<\/strong> Yes! Even when it doesn\u2019t make sense. <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201c[Jesus] stayed two days longer in the place where he was.\u201d \u201cThe Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and you are going there again?\u201d \u201cLord, if he has simply fallen asleep, he will recover.\u201d None of this made sense to the disciples. Trust him! Even when we don\u2019t fully understand, Jesus still knows what\u2019s he\u2019s doing.<\/p>\n John 11:14-16 \u2013<\/strong> Yes! Even when some don\u2019t believe. <\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus said, \u201cLet us go, that you may believe.\u201d Thomas said, \u201cLet us go, that we all may die.\u201d Thomas believed what he saw in the circumstances, not in the One sovereign over <\/em>the circumstances. When Jesus says, \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d go \u2026 believing.<\/p>\n John 11:21-27 \u2013 Yes! Even when theology and faith don\u2019t match. <\/strong><\/p>\n Martha\u2019s theology was sound, but her faith still had limitations. She confessed that Jesus is the Christ, that God hears and answers his prayers, and that there is a coming resurrection. Nevertheless, her \u201cif only\u201d revealed a hole in her faith. Mary echoed the same limitation: \u201cif only you had gotten here sooner.\u201d Is our church\u2019s condition partly a consequence of mismatched theology and faith? Let\u2019s go believing, listening and learning from the Master afresh. He will expand our theology and deepen our faith. And make this body live again.<\/p>\n